The remains

Chapter 54

The noise from the slamming door shoots through me like an ice cold blade. Even Molly stops her incessant mattress jumping. She stops and stares at me. And me back at her.

The solid noise of the slamming door… It’s a noise you feel as much as hear.

“ Must be the wind,” Molly says, eyes wide.

“ Must be,” I swallow, although I don’t recall much of a breeze blowing outside in those woods.

For what seems forever we just stand still inside the second floor of that home. We wait for another noise to confirm the worst: that we are not alone.

“ Maybe it’s dad,” Molly whispers.

Trooper Dan.

My stomach caves in on itself. Body grows weak, dizzy. I feel nauseas.

Then a footstep along the first floor. Heavy, leaden. And another.

Footsteps.

“ That’s not dad,” I swallow.

We wait, paralyzed, not knowing what to do.

The footsteps bear down, their sound growing louder with each step. When I hear the footsteps pounding up the stairs, Molly screams. I drop to my knees.

We’re not alone anymore.